Wednesday, 30 November 2011

And here we go with the last batch of the original 18 issue run of '60sSILVER SURFER comic covers. The first five are (I think) by JauntyJOHN BUSCEMA ('though, truth to tell, I have my doubts about #17),and the final one is by Happy HERB TRIMPE, the interior art being byJolly JACK KIRBY. Unfortunately, although critically well-received(and fondly remembered), sales were not as expected on the seriesand issue #18 proved to be the last.

Plans had been afoot to change the direction of the series, making
the Surfer much more angry at the injustices meted out to him by the
human race and reacting accordingly, but they never materialised. The
Surfer went on to become a founding member of the 'non-team' THEDEFENDERS in the '70s, and starred in a one-shot SS issue by JOHNBYRNE in 1982, before being resurrected in his own ongoing title in
1987. He has also appeared in various graphic novels and limited
series over the years, ensuring that we're not bound to forget the
star-spanning surfer of the spaceways anytime soon.

He was never better 'though, than in his original '60s run, so enjoy
these cataclysmic covers from when comics were far more entertaining
and much better value for money than they are now. A complete story
in a comic (even with continuing sub-plots), as opposed to being spread
across seemingly countless issues and different titles where nothing
much happens and there are too many 'talking head' shots? Methinks
the comic creators of yesteryear were onto something.

Saturday, 19 November 2011

And now the remaining covers from my own collection of SUPERDC, a British reprint comic which came out in 1969 or '70. There's a bit
of a mystery as to exactly what year it made its debut, and I suspect that
it followed the path of the IPC magazine VULCAN in the mid-'70s. (For
those of you not in the know, Vulcan was first sold in Scotland and
wasn't sold nationally until six months later.)

In Super DC's case, I'm unsure in which part of the country it would
have appeared first, but I suspect it may have been England initially,
then Scotland. I have two copies of issue #1, and both are of slightly
different dimensions. Also, the indicia typeset does not match (although
both are copyrighted 1969), suggesting the possibility of being printed
at different times. The dates on the calendar free gift are 1970/'71,
but this could have been an update for a second printing.

Of course, another possibility is that maybe only the first issue was
reprinted, to launch it in Scotland and then get rid of previously printed,
unsold subsequent editions. The fact that every issue had the price of one
shilling on the cover, even after decimalisation, tends to suggest that they
were printed well before distribution - especially as the copyright date of
1969 also appeared on every issue (if memory serves). This, of course, is
all speculation on my part, but it would certainly help explain why there
are two different versions of #1. If anybody has a better suggestion
(or, in fact, knows the real reason), feel free to share it here.

Thanks to the generosity of ANDREW KERR, I was able to show
you the cover of the fourteenth and final issue, which I didn't have in my
collection. However, I've now managed to acquire the comic for myself,
and replaced Andrew's image of the cover with my own. I'm still look-
ing for a spare copy 'though, if anyone could bear to part with theirs.

Incidentally, the ad below (featuring WORLD'S FINEST #180)
appeared on the back cover of every issue of Super DC. Exactly how
they could colour BATMAN's costume correctly on the front cover,
but get it so spectacularly wrong on the back is beyond me.

So, lift your glasses to MICK ANGLO, 'creator' of MARVEL-MAN, and editor of one of the fondly remembered comics of my
boyhood. Here's to you, Mick.

Friday, 18 November 2011

Continuing with our gallery of SILVER SURFER covers, we
take up where we left off last time, which was SS #7. That means
we start this little session with #8 through #12, with #13 to #18
still to come in the next post. Hope you'll join us then, but in the
meantime enjoy these five covers by JOHN BUSCEMA.

Although Big John only drew the first seventeen issues in the

series, they're clearly superior to the eighteenth and last ish illus-

trated by JACK KIRBY, which was intended as the first in a new

direction for the title. Clearly, then, even with an artist of Buscema's

calibre, sales weren't as good as they could've been, hence the change

Thursday, 17 November 2011

Here are four more covers from the ODHAMS PRESS publication
of the 1960s, the titanically-titled TERRIFIC, plus the back-page pin-
ups too. Lasting only 43 issues before being merged with its POWERPACK stable-mate FANTASTIC, it nevertheless retains its place
in the fond memories of dreary old farts like myself.

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Here are some more covers from my collection of SUPER DC,
the TOP SELLERS reprint title from the late '60s, early '70s. Also
shown are the free gifts from issue #1. Traditionally, British comics
had free gifts in the first three issues, but that was usually only with
weeklies. Perhaps because it was a monthly publication, editor MICKANGLO decided to put all three giveaways in the 1st issue - or it
could've been that, individually, they weren't up to much, hence
the 'quantity' rather than 'quality' approach.

If anyone has issue #14 of Super DC and wants to make a few
quid, then get in touch. Then I can feature it on a future post.

Sometimes, when I click on an image on someone's blog to enlarge a picture for closer scrutiny, the image appears same size or smaller against a black background. This means one can't appreciate the image at a larger size, which often renders featuring it in the first place a bit redundant.

If you go into 'settings' - then 'formatting' - and disable the lightbox facility, it will enable readers to enlarge images for closer study.

Mick was also the editor of SUPER DC, a British monthly magazine
which featured resized reprints of various superheroes from the stable
of NATIONAL PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS (DC COMICS)
back in 1969/'70, and I have very fond memories of the title.

Now that MARVEL own the rights to Marvelman, Mick can be

regarded as having been associated with Marvel and DC - no mean feat

for any British comics person. In memory of Mick, I've decided to focus on

Super DC, as I was never really into Marvelman when I was a kid. Although,

ironically, I later lettered the sample pages submitted to Marvel when they

were in negotiations for the character. No doubt it was my fantastic hand-

lettering which clinched the deal. Harrummmphh! (Sorry, there

seems to be something stuck in my throat.)

I seem to remember the mighty DEZ SKINN saying somewhere that
Mick, as well as his duties as editor, also drew the covers for Super DC.
If anyone can confirm that, feel free to do so in the comments section. If
it wasn't him and anyone can identify the artist, let me know and I'll be
sure to give him a credit.

According to the late comics collector and historian DENIS GIFFORD,

there were fourteen issues of Super DC. I have the first thirteen issues,

so if anyone has the elusive fourteenth, sell it to me or kindly send me a

scan of the cover so I can feature it in the second part of this tribute.

MAURICE ANGLOWITZ, born on June 16th 1916, died on October

31st 2011, aged 95. In his time, he worked as an editor, writer and artist -

a one-man team supreme you might say. He could probably letter as well.

Obviously he was at the front of the queue when talent was being handed

Thursday, 10 November 2011

The world as I knew it no longer exists. It seems I've been kidnapped
by aliens and transported to an alternate dimension where things arealmost the same - but not quite. In this bizarre doppelganger planet,TREETS are called M&Ms, OPAL FRUITS are named STARBURST,OIL OF ULAY is known as OIL OF OLAY, JIF is christened CIF,KITKATs are made by NESTLE'S, not ROWNTREE'S - andMARATHONs are titled SNICKERS.

AAAAARRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!! I'm trapped on a world I
never made. Beam me up, Scotty!

(But while I'm waiting for the transporter to lock onto me, cast
your eyes over the images on this page - a comforting reminder of
when all was right with the world and it was a saner place to be.)

Wednesday, 9 November 2011

Here's the second instalment of TERRIFIC covers (plus their
back-page pin-ups) from the 1960s for you to cast your perceptive
peepers over, you lucky POWER PACK perusers of perfection.

Anybody old enough to remember these iconic issues produced
by 'the Garret' is getting on a bit by now, so just take your tablets
from the nice nurse and lose yourself in yesteryear. Your telegram
from the Queen will be along before you know it.

Remember to come back for part three in a few posts
from now. You wouldn't want to miss the treats in store
from 'The Floor of 64', would you?

For a limited time only, WH SMITH's have a 'two-for-one' offer on at the moment - buy one annual, get another absolutely free. Thought you'd like to know. (This obviously supersedes their previous 'buy one full price, get another for a £1' offer.)

STUDIO 77

About the artist:

From 1985 to 2000 A.D. (little joke there), I contributed to a variety of high profile comics and magazines for various companies.

For IPC/FLEETWAY/EGMONT, I freelanced as a lettering and logo artiston various weekly comics and monthly magazines, and also as a resize comic artistandspot illustratoron pocket books, summer specials and annuals.

ForMARVEL U.K., BLACK LIBRARY, REDAN and USBORNE BOOKS, I again freelanced as a lettering artist, also working as arestoration artistfor MARVEL U.S., restoring and re-creating certain pages of JACK KIRBY art for their MARVEL MASTERWORKS editions.

I also lettered the MARVELMAN sample pages submitted to MARVEL U.S. when they were considering acquiring the character, which - as we all now know - they DID.

Supplied comic strips, cartoons and illustrated advertisements for local business campaigns and newspaper publication on a professional basis since the age of 16. Did my first paid art job for publication at 14 or 15 for Lanarkshire Education Board.

Image Enlargement:

In a few instances some images are featured at full size (or larger) to begin with, so clicking is redundant.

Copyright Notice:

Images remain the property of their respective copyright owners and are used here only for the purpose of review, promotion, and nostalgia.

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